PATRIOTS RUNNING BACK JAMES WHITE
Q: Conditioning on a day like today - obviously not pads until tomorrow but this kind of lets you know what training camp is going to be like?
JW: Yeah, it kind of lets you know what it's going to be like for training camp and the rest of the season. So, it's good to get the work in in the heat, learn how to hydrate and get into shape because this is what it's going to be like.
Q: How did today go compared to yesterday?
JW: You just want to keep building. Every day is not going to be perfect but you want to build on the day before, do not make the same mistakes, keep learning because each day they're going to throw more stuff at you. So learn as much as you can and keep improving.
Q: Do you happen to notice all the cheering [Julian] Edelman was getting?
JW: I mean, he's the man. He's a good football player, makes a lot of big plays for us. So a lot of us guys can learn from him, lot of young guys. It's good to have him out here, just competing and trying to make each other better.
Q: But you did notice that he seemed to get people ...
JW: Yeah, he always gets people going. He's one of the leaders on this team and he just goes out there and makes plays and leads by example.
Q: How do you describe the chemistry, the competition, in the running back room, obviously with Sony [Michel] - a rookie - what's the fine line between teaching him but letting him learn.
JW: You try to help him as much as you can, try not to throw too much at him but help him here and there after each rep, just coach him up a little bit on the side. But, you don't want to give him too much at one time so he can just go out there and play fast. It's just football at the end of the day, just take your coaching points and once you're out there, just go out there and play fast, play football.
Q: A lot of players have said in the past that you're not trying to compete against each other, "I'm not trying to take his job. If he wins, it's better for the team."
JW: Just trying to help him out as much as you can and you never know what everybody's role is going to be throughout the year. At this point, the coaches will figure that out so you never know who you're going to need at this point or later on in the season. So we're just going to help each other out.
Q: Is there one aspect of your game you want to work on the most?
JW: There's never just one thing. I try to work on everything. Blocking, catching, running, learning the offense as a whole, trying to learn different positions, having a better understanding of the offense. Just want to become a better overall football player so no matter what situation you're in, you can excel at it.
Q: How complex is this offense to learn?
JW: It's pretty complex. There's a lot to learn but they try to not throw too much at you at one time. Just take it day by day, remember things from the day before because they can't stack up when you continue to review. But the more you stay in and you go out there, you make mistakes, it won't be too bad for you.
Q: What's tempo like in Josh McDaniels' offense? What have you learned about Josh over the years?
JW: It's up-tempo. But the whole practice is going to be up-tempo. It's not just offense, it's going to be defense too. We want to be lined up, move from drill to drill fast, try to make it harder now than it's going to be in the game so when gameday comes around, you just can go play fast and you're in shape.
Q: What are the challenges that a young back like Sony Michel faces as he transitions to a different team?
JW: Just learn. Learn as much as you can, soak in as much as you can. Play fast, have fun. That's the most important thing, just having fun out there. We play football because it's fun. It can be stressful at times but sometimes you just got to remember why you're out here, remember your why and then just be the best player you can be.
Q: As you enter another year, are you starting to feel yourself transitioning to more of a leadership role as you become an elder statesman in the group?
JW: I just try to do as much as I can to help other guys, not only just in my group, any position, young guys. Just talk to them at the lunch table, dinner table, make them feel at home, make them feel comfortable. Help them out as much as I can, like I said, you never know who you're going to need at this point and later on throughout the year.
Q: Is there a lot of truth to the theory that running training camp really begins when the pads come on?
JW: Yeah, definitely man. A little added weight of those pads definitely makes a little bit of a difference but it's just football in the end. More contact when the pads come on. So that starts tomorrow and then just keep getting better at it as the days go on.
Q: How do you look at the competition among you guys?
JW: It's great competition. There's always competition here during training camp. We always have about seven guys competing with one another, have friendship. But we know it's going to be a competition, we don't know who's going to be here at the end of the day but just make the most of your opportunities.
Q: And how do you go at that, it's certainly up to the coaches right?
JW: Yeah, you just got to make the most of your reps. The coaches decide what each and every person's role is going to be, so make the most of each opportunity. You aren't out there every play, sometimes maybe two, maybe one, so make the most of that rep and try to stand out.
Transcripts are provided by the Patriots media relations department as a courtesy to the media and are edited for readability. All press conferences are posted and archived in their entirety at patriots.com.
